Budget OK'd in nick of time

V'land school board meets new deadline

Apr. 11, 2014

Written by

VINELAND — Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the 2014-15 budget included $495,000 to build an auxiliary gym at Vineland High School. It does not.

Coming down to the wire for yet a second time, the school board in a 7-1 vote approved a $196 million 2014-15 budget Wednesday that calls for no tax increase.

Sound familiar? It’s the same bottom line the Board of Education shot down in an 8-1 vote on March 19.

But some things have changed since then. There’s been some give-and-take between the board’s finance committee and the administration about cuts and additions. And the state Department of Education had threatened to appoint a monitor to oversee the district’s finances if a budget wasn’t approved by Thursday.

The budget approved is the same draft unveiled last week, which called for 47 staff cuts and a $100,341 increase in arts funding.

The spending plan now proceeds to the executive county superintendent for review.

A public hearing on the budget will be scheduled between April 24 and May 7, according to Business Administrator Herb Schectman.

Despite it being the eve of the state-imposed deadline, several board members voiced their displeasure with a spending plan they say fails to try to ward off what’s expected to be a financial crisis in the 2015-16 school year.

Finance committee Chairman Brian DeWinne cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he would not be performing his fiduciary duty by approving a budget that does not address the district’s long-term financial needs. Board member Diamaris Rios was unable to attend the meeting.

“I’ve worked with enough budgets in my career to know you just don’t pass a budget, sit back and call it a day,” Schectman said, spelling out what’s next.

Superintendent Mary Gruccio and the central administration are considering cost-saving measures, he said. These include delaying hires, implementing a selective hiring freeze, reviewing the cost of renting facilities, seeking proposals on contracted services and limiting weekend access to facilities when costs such as maintenance and security are not fully recouped.

(Page 2 of 2)

The goal is to start working on the 2015-16 budget as quickly as possible, Schectman said.

During the public session, Vineland Education Association President Louis Russo urged the board to consider a tax increase. “As one Vineland taxpayer, I want to say loud and clear, I want you to raise my taxes and I say that sincerely,” Russo said. The school board has the option of raising taxes by 2 percent, which is the state cap, to fund the budget.

“The answer is not cutting. All we’ve been doing for half a decade is cutting,” Russo told the board. “All that you do is argue about who you cut, when you cut and where you cut.”

The budget-slashing of positions, including a child study team, nursing staff and computer teachers, will affect students, he said.

Board member Tom Ulrich also voiced support for a tax increase.

“The cost of doing business is more, and if our revenue isn’t increasing — I’m not a big math person but I can add — and I realize we are in a hell of a position right now,” he said.

Ulrich urged the school district to be honest with its employees about budget proposals, including any privatization plans.

“We should give them an opportunity to come to the table with ideas that can help potentially save their jobs,” Ulrich said. “I say this with a sense of urgency because the clock is ticking.”

Board member Frank DiGiorgio noted those who supported the tax increase were the ones who could afford it.

“But a lot of people can’t,” he said, “We want to fund education as best as we can, but there’s a limit if it’s shown that it is being used wisely, efficiently and resourcefully.”

Susanne Morello, a vocal critical of the budget draft, said philosophically she could understand the call for a tax hike but could not support it.

“The majority of homes, I would think in the city of Vineland, are struggling just to make it payday to payday,” she said.

Board member Scott English urged district employees to get involved in the budget planning in an attempt to save as many positions as possible.

“I would challenge everyone to go home tonight and do the pros and cons list on how can I sacrifice — maybe can I save my job and possible my fellow co-workers,” English said, also encouraging employees to talk to their union representation.

You will automatically receive the TheDailyJournal.com Top 5 daily email newsletter. If you don't want to receive this newsletter, you can change your newsletter selections in your account preferences.